Heel protector for snow skis



March 17, 1970 H, HOLMBERG ETAL 3,501,161

HEEL PROTECTOR FOR SNOW SKIS Filed March 18, 1968 FIG I I4 INVENTOR. HARTVIG E. HOLM BERG BY HARRY E.HOLMBERG Attorneys United States Patent 3,501,161 HEEL PROTECTOR FOR SNOW SKIS Hartvig E. Holmberg and Harry E. Holmberg, St. Paul, Minn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Beatrice Foods Co., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 713,863 Int. Cl. A63c 11/00, /00

US. Cl. 28011.13 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A heel protector for a ski has parallel fingers that are press fitted into slots provided in the heel plate of the ski, thereby allowing the protector to be detached and readily replaced. In a second embodiment, the fingers on the protector are inserted into slots in the heel plate having diverging portions so that the fingers are forcibly spread apart, thereby fixedly retaining the protector in place and eifectively preventing removal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates generally to metal skis of the laminated type, and pertains more particularly to a heel protector for such skis.

Description of the prior art US. Patent No. 3,145,998 for Bottom Structure for Laminated Ski, issued Aug. 25, 1964 to us, is illustrative of prior art constructions where the present invention will find utility. In such types of skis, the laminations thereof terminate at the heel of the ski with their rear edges exposed, much in the same manner as if the ski had been transversely cut. While such constructions have been generally satisfactory, nonetheless, frequently the skier will force the heel or rear end of his skis into the ground when not using them. This tends to mutilate the heel end of the ski and in some instances causes at least a partial delamination to occur which can become progressively worse. In any event, even where the damage is slight, the skis become marred and unsightly by the abuse to which they are unwittingly subjected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a protector for the heel or rear end of a laminated metal ski.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heel protector that can be removed and replaced if circumstances so dictate.

Another embodiment of the invention provides for the more permanent retention of the heel protector, thereby giving the particular ski manufacturer a choice when practicing our invention in the selection of the type of heel protector that will best suit the manufacturers requirements and the expected desires of the skiers themselves.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heel protector of the foregoing character that can be easily installed at the factory in a minimum amount of time, thereby enhancing the desirability of using such a protector because of the minimum amount of extra time required to attach the protector.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a heel protector for skis that will be inexpensive to manufacture and which will require virtually no extra material as far as the skis construction is concerned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heel protector for skis that will readily conform to the upward curvature of the rear end portion of the ski.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a protector having a construction such that a relatively soft and inexpensive metal, such as aluminum, may be used, and where a similar metal is used for the heel plate of the ski, the press fit retention of the heel protector can be achieved without requiring close tolerances as long as such tolerances are on the positive side.

Briefly stated, the invention envisages the employment of an aluminum protector comprised of a transverse rib with forwardly projecting fingers. In one embodiment, the fingers are not only initially parallel with respect with each other, but remain so when press fitted into parallel slots formed in the heel plate of the ski. In a second embodiment, the fingers, while originally parallel, enters slots having diverging portions so that the fingers are bent into a divergent relationship so as to provide virtually a permanent retention of the protector with respect to the ski.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a ski having our protector mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan View of the ski in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view with the central portion of the ski removed so as to illustrate the toe and heel portions of the ski on a larger scale, especially the latter since the present invention is concerned with the protection of the heel portion;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 for the purpose of illustrating how the protector is anchored;

FIGURE 5' is a view taken in the direction of line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of our protector in an exploded relationship with the heel plate (shown planar but actually slightly curved in a longitudinal direction) that is normally present in a ski of the metal laminated type, the protector being as though its integral fingers are about to be inserted into the slots provided in the heel plate;

FIGURE 7 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 5 but illustrating another embodiment of the invention, and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG- URE 6 but illustrating the embodiment of FIGURE 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Due to the fact that a more complete description of the ski itself can be found in said US. Patent No. 3,145,998, only a general description of the ski need herein be given. However, in order to facilitate a comparison of the ski components mentioned at this time with those to be found in said patent, the same reference numerals will be employed as far as the construction of the ski itself. However, different reference numerals, quite obviously, will be utilized in order to illustrate the protector and the manner in which it is anchored to the heel of the ski.

Accordingly, describing now the general constructional makeup of the ski, a ski such as that shown in our aforesaid patent has been generally denoted by the reference numeral 10. It will be discerned from FIGURE 1 that the ski is bent upwardly at 14 to form the toe or shovel 0f the ski, and the rear end terminates in the heel portion labeled 15, which preferably curves slightly upwardly as is more clearly shown in FIGURE 4; such curvature has been found desirable in actual practice to allow backward motion even through this curvature does not appear in our previously mentioned patent.

Core members, preferably composed of randomly oriented wood particles and a suitable binder, have been 3 indicated by the numeral 18, being laterally separated to provide an open medial portion 19 therebetween. The medial portion 19 extends substantially, the length of the ski from a rearward termination at 20.

Particular attention should be devoted to the presence of an aluminum insert or heel plate 22 which is modified in a manner hereinafter explained. The heel plate 22, however, has a forwardly projecting tongue 22a which preferably has a centrally disposed groove (not shown) extending completely to the rear edge of the plate 22. Such a groove matches the shape of a tracking groove 25 (FIGURE 2) that extends from the rear end of the ski to a termination point 26 near the forward end of the ski as can be seen in FIGURE 2. As is conventional, the tracking groove assists in the straight line tracking of the ski in use. A series of transverse slots 22b are provided so that the plate 22 can be curved as illustrated in FIGURE 4 without buckling or distortion, particularly when of sufficient thickness to warrant the provision of a groove on the underside of the plate 22 and its tongue 22a as explained above.

As can be seen in FIGURE 4, the ski 10, which is of laminated construction as already pointed out, includes a first upper sheet 29, preferably of aluminum, which is secured to the upper surface 30 of the core members 18 as well as to the upper surface of the heel plate 22. To the top of the aluminum sheet 29 is secured a second upper sheet 31 which is preferably of a thin steel composition and which is coextensive with the general area of the aluminum sheet 29. A final third upper sheet 32, preferably of a hard plastic material, is bonded to the upper surface of the steel sheet 31 and is coextensive with the area of the steel sheet 31. Adhesively secured to the lower surface 34 of the core members 18 and to the underside of the heel plate 22 is a first lower sheet 53, preferably of aluminum. Although not readily understood from the drawings of this application, it is clear from our previously identified patent that running edges 55 having an angular configuration underlie the edge margins of the sheet 53. The horizontal flanges of these running edges 55 overlie and are welded to a steel sheet 63, a plate 65 occupying the space that would otherwise exist between the horizontal flanges in a lateral direction and between the sheets 53 and 63 in a vertical direction. A sheet or layer 67 of wax modified polyethylene plastic completes the bottom structure of the ski, this sheet or layer providing the actual running surface for the ski.

Having presented the foregoing information, which has dealt specifically with the ski construction depicted in our Patent No. 3,145,998, it is though that the construction illustrated in FIGURE 4 will be more understood and that a basis has now been afforded for an understanding of the heel protector 100 that will now be described in detail. The protector 100, which is preferably of aluminum or other relatively soft material, includes a guard rib 102 having a forward vertical flat surface 104. As best seen from FIGURE 6, there are four parallel fingers 106 that are integral with the rib 102 and which project from the face 104. In the illustrated situation, there are four such fingers 106, but it will be appreciated that the number may vary. FIGURE 6 shows quite clearly the presence of three transverse grooves 108 in the upper surface of each of the fingers 106, and close inspection of this same figure will reveal the formation of similar grooves 110 in the lower face of each finger 106, there being four such grooves 110 which are offset or displaced with respect to the upper grooves 108 as can be easily seen.

At this time, attention is directed to a number of slots 112 in the previously mentioned heel plate 22. It is by reason of these slots 112 that the heel plate is modified from the construction described in our Patent No. 3,145,998. From FIGURES 3 and 4 it will be perceived that the slots 112 are somewhat longer than the length of the fingers 106. thereby assuring complete reception of the fingers 106 without the possibility of the end of the fingers abutting against the closed ends of the slots 112. From FIGURE 4 it can be readliy seen that the thickness of the various fingers 106 correspond to the thickness of the heel plate 22. It will also be perceived from FIGURE 4 that the fiat face 104 extends upwardly from the top of each finger a distance corresponding to the sum of the thicknesses of the previously referred to sheets 29, 31 and 32. Also, it can be appreciated that the surface 104 extends downwardly from the bottom of the various fingers 106 a distance equivalent to the sum of the thicknesses of the lower sheets 53, 63, 65 and 67. At the bottom of the rib 102 is an arcuate notch or groove 111, conforming to the size and configuration of the tracking groove 25 so as to provide a smooth continuation thereof (FIGURE 2).

What cannot readily be learned from the drawings, however, is the relative width of the fingers 106 with respect to the slots 112. In inserting the fingers 106, a press fit is intended and when the heel plate 22 is of aluminum and the protector is of aluminum, then a width of each finger 106 approximately 0.002 inch greater than the width of the slot in which it is to be received provides the requisite fit, yet permits deliberate detachment or removal of the protector 100 if later desired. It will perhaps be helpful to present a specific finger width and a specific slot width. A finger width of 0.22075 inch has been found satisfactory when utilizing a slot width of 0.21875 inch, but these widths may be varied as tolerances. It will be appreciated that the depth of the various grooves 108 and 110 will depend upon the thickness of the fingers 106 for a given material, as well as the amount of curvature that the heel portion 15 assumes; the fingers, it will be understood, conform to the curvature and the various grooves 108 and 110 allow the fingers to curve to whatever degree is necessary as they are forced into the slots 112.

With the foregoing information in mind, the manner in which our protector 100 is installed should be apparent. Assuming that the ski 10 is first assembled as pictured in our aforesaid patent, but with an insert or heel plate 22 modified as herein explained, the fingers 106 are forced into the slots 112 and the press fit retains the protector in place. The excess material, if any, of the protector 100 can then be trimmed away. If it later becomes necessary or desirable to replace the protector, such as after it becomes scratched from prolonged and rough usage, pliers or other suitable tool can be employed to pull the protector 100 from the ski so that another protector can be pressed into place in lieu thereof.

In some instances, the heel protector should be considered a permanent part of the ski and provision is made for the more permanent anchoring of the protector to the ski as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8. The modified heel protector has been designated by the reference numeral 200. Hereagain, it includes a guard rib 202, a forward flat face 204 and projecting fingers 206. However, the fingers 206 differ in that they are somewhat shorter, projecting from a base or bight portion 207 that is integral with the rib 202. The fingers 206, in this way, are made stronger than the previously decribed fingers 106. In this embodiment, a series of transverse grooves 208 are provided in only the upper surface of the fingers 206. They can be made somewhat deeper than the grooves previously mentioned and thus obviate the need of the lower grooves. A notch 211 is formed in the bottom of the rib 202 which corresponds to and functions the same as the groove 111.

The heel plate 22 appearing in FIGURES 7 and 8 is altered in a different fashion from the heel plate appearing in the other views. In this situation, slots 212 are provided, there being two such slots. In this instance, though, there are parallel portions 212a at the rear and additional portions 21% and 2120 that diverge at an acute angle with respect to the rear portion 212a in each instance. This forms a camming portion 214 having a generally pointed free end which engages between the fingers 206 as they enter the slots 212, the portion 214 causing the fingers 206 to be forcibly spread into the diverging relationship appearing in FIGURE 7. The fingers 206, as can be seen from the exploded relationship in FIGURE 8 are initially parallel with each other. In this way, the fingers 206, by reason of the relatively ductile characteristic of the metal (aluminum) remain in their deflected relation and the protector 200 is thus firmly held in place.

The fabrication of the protectors 100 and 200 is readily achieved on a mass production basis by extruding the protectors in each instance and then fabricating them by stamping the fingers and the grooves that have been described. In other words, the protectors 100 and 200, as the case may be, are initially in long strips resulting from" their having been extruded and are cut into the shorter lengths at the time that the fingers are stamped. The protectors, it can be appreciated, are press fitted into the ski at substantially the completion of the manufacture of the ski. vOf course, as already pointed out, the protector 100 can be extracted or pulled from the ski and replaced if needed be. The protector 200, it should be understood, is not intended to be replaced, but can be if a sufiicient extraction force is applied to the rib 202 thereof.

We claim:

1. In a ski having upper and lower laminations, a heel plate member secured between said laminations adjacent the rear end thereof having a plurality of slots extending forwardly from its rear edge, and a heel protector member including a transverse rib and a plurality of integral fingers projecting from said rib. into said slots in a press fit relation.

2. A ski in accordance with claim 1 in which said fingers have flat upper and lower surfaces.

3. A ski in accordance with claim 1 in which said fingers are shorter than said slots.

4. A ski in accordance with claim 1 in which said rib has a flat forward surface, and fiat surface projecting both upwardly and downwardly from said fingers.

5. A ski in accordance with claim 4 in which said he plate member is curved in the lengthwise direction the ski and said fingers constitute strips having tran verse grooves across their upper surfaces so that sai finger assume a curvature conforming to that of sai heel plate member.

6. A ski in accordance with claim 1 in which least one of said members is metallic.

7. A ski in accordance with claim 6 in which sai metallic member is aluminum.

8. A ski in accordance with claim 7 in which both said members are aluminum.

9. A ski in accordance with claim 8 in which eac finger before insertion into its slot has a width approx mately 0.002 inch greater than that of the slot.

10. A ski in accordance with claim 8 in which sai slots are parallel to each other.

11. A ski in accordance with claim 8 in which sai slots each have a rear portion parallel to each other an a forward portion diverging at an acute angle with respet to its rear portion.

12. A ski in accordance with claim 11 in which eac slot has a second forward portion diverging at an acut angle forming a pointed camming means for deflectin said fingers.

13. A ski in accordance with claim 12 including tw integral bight portions, each bight portion having a pai of fiat fingers extending therefrom for deflection into diverging relationship by said camming means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,145,998 8/1964 Holmberg et al.

FOREIGN PATENTS 248,928 8/ 1966 Austria. 1,415,662 9/1965 France.

LEO FRLAGLIA, Primary Examiner M. L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner 

